Launched at Musikmesse 2013, Frankfurt, the MFB Tanzbär analogue drum machine is available now. ALEX4 Distribution started shipping in the beginning of July 2013. Berlin-based electronic musical instrumentmanufacturer MFB’s Tanzbär Analoger Drumcomputer uses the nostalgic sound of an analogue percussive past and takes it to the performance-orientated present as a powerful new analogue sound.
Despite already having been a hit in its initial prototype form in Frankfurt, MFB engineers and programmers Manfred Fricke and Sebastian Preller have seen fit to add another synth voice to the hand-built production version so that it now features 16 high-quality analogue drum instruments. These include two bass drums, snare drum, rim shot, cymbal, hi-hat, clap, low-tom, mid-tom, and hi-tom. These can all be thoroughly tweaked via dedicated knobs for spontaneous, hands-on control of various performance parameters. The rear of the upmarket metal casing with wooden end panels features six individual output jacks, CV connection and a full MIDI interface.
The tight step sequencer central to the Tanzbär Analoger Drumcomputer allows different step lengths per drum instrument with programmable accent and pitch-bend functionality, roll and flam recording, individual and global swing quantisation, and also per step recording of control values. Up to 144 patterns with A/B variations can be programmed and stored.
With a diminutive desktop footprint, the Tanzbär Analoger Drumcomputer fits well in any hybrid modern and/or vintage live performance or studio setup. |